Visitors New Zealand led by Amelia Kerr were up against hosts England in the 2nd T20I at St Laurence Ground, Canterbury, on 23rd May 2026.
The home side, led by the stand-in skipper Charlotte Dean, took the series lead (1-0) by winning the 1st T20I by 7 wickets on 20th May 2026. England is hosting the White Ferns, led by skipper Amelia Kerr, for a white-ball series that includes a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series from 10th May to 25th May 2026. The ODI series was levelled (1-1) as the 2nd ODI was washed out.
Issy Wong replaced Sophie Ecclestone in the starting 11 for England, while the visitors made a couple of changes: Lea Tahuhu and Nensi Patel replaced Suzie Bates and Rosemary Mair in the starting 11.
Sophie Devine and Maddy Green rescue New Zealand to post 170/5
The English new-ball bowlers Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith pinned the White Ferns on the back foot as they were reduced to 11/4 in the 4th over of the innings, after skipper Amelia Kerr won the toss and opted to bat first at Canterbury. New Zealand lost their skipper for a golden duck.
Maddy Green joined former skipper Sophie Devine at the crease, and it required the experienced pair to bail the visitors out of a hole. The duo delivered exactly what the doctor ordered by stitching a much-needed partnership of humongous proportions, worth 158 runs. That match-saving stand took them to a competitive total of 170/5 in their quota of 20 overs.
Sophie Devine (87 off 57 balls) departed on the final ball of the innings courtesy of an unfortunate run-out on the final ball of the innings. She registered a fighting half-century, utilising all her experience to deliver for her side under immense pressure. Maddy Green (56* off 48 balls) stayed unbeaten on a vital half-century. Linsey Smith (4-0-25-3) and Lauren Bell (4-0-22-1) were the stand-out performers with the ball for England.
The top order fails to convert good starts, as England falls short
The White Ferns charged out with a spring in their steps after the rescue act by the Devine–Green duo. The English openers Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley were equally motivated to seal the T20I series. The pair provided them with a brisk start courtesy of a 31-run opening stand. Off-spinner Nensi Patel broke the stand by sending Sophia Dunkley (26 off 18 balls) back to the pavilion in the 4th over of the innings, providing the crucial first breakthrough for New Zealand.
Another vital stand worth 45 runs for the 2nd wicket between Maia Bouchier and Alice Capsey (22 off 19 balls), followed by another crucial 42-run stand for the 3rd wicket between Maia Bouchier and Heather Knight, taking them past the 100-run mark, while also keeping them in the hunt in the run chase. Nensi Patel, bowling the 16th over of the run chase, turned things around in favour of the White Ferns as both the set batters, Maia Bouchier (38 off 33 balls) and Heather Knight (25 off 23 balls) departed in that over, which brought the visitors firmly back into the contest.
The bowlers capitalised on the opening and made run-scoring incredibly difficult with consistent lines and lengths, choking the opposition batters, backed up by an exceptional display in the field. Despite a spirited effort from Danielle Gibson (12 off 9 balls) and Freya Kemp (14 off 14 balls) towards the backend, the home side were restricted to 156/6 in their quota of 20 overs, falling 14 runs short of the target.
Nensi Patel (4-0-25-2), Bree Illing (4-0-27-1), skipper Amelia Kerr (4-0-28-1), and Lea Tahuhu (4-0-32-1) were the top performers with the ball for New Zealand. Sophie Devine was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional match-saving innings with the bat for her side under pressure, playing a crucial role as the White Ferns level the three-match T20I series 1-1.
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